For the final 24 minutes, he showed why he might be the Tigers' best tailback.

Despite nursing an injured shoulder, the junior rushed 13 times for 121 yards in the second half and helped the Class A fourth-ranked Tigers come from behind to defeat No. 5-ranked Trion 36-27 Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

It was the third time the Tigers (1-0) have beaten the Bulldogs in the past four years and it was their first win over Trion (0-1) in the regular season. The Tigers haven't dropped a home opener since 1994.

"The offensive line did everything," said Rucker, who was making his first varsity appearance. "I knew it was my turn and I wanted to help my team."

Although he didn't reach the end zone, Rucker help set up three second-half touchdown drives with runs of 22, 19 and 16 yards.

While Rucker gave the running game a boost, quarterback Caleb Jordan provided the bulk of the offensive punch with his arm.

Making his first varsity start, Jordan looked like a veteran, sticking in the pocket and making precise throws. He was 5-of-7 passing for 158 yards, threw for two touchdowns

and ran for two. One Jordan pass was dropped by Mitch Redmond

in the second half.

"Funny, but we worked on that all week," the senior said of

the passing game. "Hank (Tiller) made some great catches and

Jeff Blake/Staff

Commerce tailback Tristan Daniels sprints past Trion's Landon Reynolds on his way to finishing with 41 yards rushing in the Tigers' 36-27 season-opening victory on Saturday.